Hudson Valley Saints ex-owner Mark S. English charged with stealing more than $50,000

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. -- A Lake Katrine man who once owned the now-defunct Hudson Valley Saints semi-pro football team has been charged with stealing tens of thousands of dollars, state police said on Saturday.

Mark S. English, 51, was charged on Friday with two felony counts of grand larceny and a single felony count of scheming to defraud, police said.

Police said English is accused of stealing more than $50,000 from a woman who lives in Kingston and more than $3,000 from a man who lives in the town of Ulster.

A police press release said the alleged crimes occurred while English was "acting as owner of the Hudson Valley Saints," but it did not specify any connection between his role with the team and the thefts. State police Investigator James Browne, who issued the press release, said by phone later Saturday that he wasn't certain of the details.

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English took ownership of the team in 2005 and was involved with the Saints until 2007.

The team ultimately was purchased by a group that included former Saints coach Angel Torres, Colonial Motorcars owner Drew Murphy and other local businessmen. After two name changes -- to Hudson Valley Highlanders and Tri-County Tigers -- the team went out of existence after the 2009 season.

English was arraigned by Hurley Town Justice Michael Jordan and sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail, police said. He is scheduled to appear in Kingston City Court at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.